Centre Announces 10% Reservation In Constable Jobs In CRPF For Ex-Agniveers

The Union Home Ministry has agreed to reserve 10% of the 1,29,929 sanctioned slots for general duty constables in the Central Reserve Police Force for ex-Agniveers, news agency PTI reported.

According to a statement issued by MHA, 4,667 of the sanctioned jobs are for women, with a pay matrix ranging from Rs 21,700 to Rs 69,100 and a retirement age of 60 years.

According to the notice, 10% of the constable (general duty) positions would be earmarked for ex-Agnives.

Individuals interested in the position must be between the ages of 18 and 23. Age relaxation would be five years for Scheduled Castes or Scheduled Tribes candidates and three years for Other Backward Class candidates.

According to the announcement, the upper age restriction for candidates in the first batch of ex-Agniveers would be eased by up to five years, while applicants in following batches of ex-Agniveers will be relaxed by three years.

Matriculation or equivalent from a board or university recognised by the Centre or the state government, or comparable Army qualification in the case of ex-Army soldiers, is necessary.

The physical and medical requirements for recruitment to the job of constable (general duty) in the CRPF would be as stipulated by the Government from time to time.

Candidates must pass the physical efficiency test and writing examination as specified in the recruiting advertising for constables. Ex-Agnives will be excused from the Physical Efficiency Test (PET).

The Government announced last month a 10% reservation in posts for former Agnives in the Border Security Force (BSF) and the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), as well as upper-age relaxation and exemption from the physical efficiency exam.

The government introduced the ambitious Agnipath initiative on June 14, 2022, for the recruitment of adolescents aged 17 and a half to 21 years in the Army, Navy, and Air Force, mostly on a four-year short-term contractual basis. Agniveers are those who have been recruited under the initiative.

Upon the end of the four-year term, 25% of each batch’s trainees will be granted regular service.

The home ministry had declared at the time that 10% of slots in central paramilitary forces and Assam Rifles would be allocated for demobilised 75% Agniveers.

It had also declared that the upper age restriction for the first batch of ex-Agniveers would be eased by up to five years, and three years for following batches. Ex-Agniveers would also be excluded from the physical proficiency test.

The age range for enlistment into paramilitary forces is 18-23 years.

Individuals who join the armed services under the Agnipath system can be recruited by the paramilitary forces until the age of 30 after four years of service in the Army, Air Force, or Navy in the first batch, and until the age of 28 in following batches.

The home ministry’s decision to integrate Agniveers into paramilitary forces is crucial since it will allow former Agniveers to find work until they reach retirement age.

The paramilitary forces will also benefit from a trained pool of individuals to fill their vacancies.

(With Inputs From PTI)